Portgas D. Ace X Reader - The boy from the church

11

First things first, before you decide if you wanna read my note or not, I must warn you that this chapter is pretty much nsfw in the second half, so beware of that. (again, no smut, but pretty much detailed intimate stuff)

So, a/n is finally needed for this one.

Secondly, I owe all of my readers an apology for missing for a whole year. There is a huge thread on my community tab on why I've been missing. But the main point is, that after my hospital visits and my health complications, I'm finally back. Now, the following year will be huge for me. Final exams are coming and everything. I need to put my life together, and that means that I'll have a pretty messy schedule of writing. I don't want to promise anything anymore, but the only thing I am sure about is that I'll finish this book one day, no matter how long it takes. It's a project that's very dear to me and I couldn't forgive myself if I'd let it unfinished.

(Also, this chapter is pretty much the last teaser until the big news arrive about the twist of the story, so the wait for the finale is coming steadily.)

With that in mind, after a year of not writing anything, I hope you enjoy this brand new chapter. I love and appreciate each and every one of you who have been interacting with this book, keeping it alive in the algorhythm, despite my inactivity.

~~~

Izo's intention of forcing you to say the truth spoke loud to you. Him and Marco clearly knew you're hiding something. Also, Ace's case due to the events involving Tashigi and her boss, has been resumed, and it wasn't making it any easier for you. And yet, you couldn't afford taking a week off work, since you could really use some free time after all the burnout this situation has caused you.

You were sitting in your bubbly bathtub with a few lit candles beside you. Your phone was playing your favourite songs and you were humming their rhythm, when suddenly, the music stopped for a second, revealing the sound of a notification. You fought the urge not to check it, since this bath was your escape place from all the overthinking, but the curiosity was killing you.

A few days after you paid a visit to Marco's place, Shanks has finally reached out to you after that uncomfortable phone call you completely forgot about. 'Hi y/n. What's the deal?' it read. You decided it was time to get out of the bathtub, so you quickly grabbed a towel and responded to the red hair. 'Izo and I had a misunderstanding. Thanks for covering me back there'. Shanks responded almost immediately with a message that shocked you. 'Good to hear I lied for a good cause. Anyways, you probably haven't heard yet, but they've announced Luffy's interrogation, so you should prepare him for that'. You pouted. There was no chance that their search lead straight to him, but your friend needed some help with his words to the police.

You were going to Luffy's house later to tell him to get ready to take part in this war, since he's probably gonna be their last lead. After Luffy, no one actually knew about your encounter with Ace, other than Mihawk, but he was the last man you worried about. You picked up your pace as soon as you felt the freezing cold temperature of the outside, and when you entered Luffy's house, you physically felt that your bones have softened from the warmth of his place.

"The case's been resumed, I've already heard." Luffy simply said, taking a seat on his couch. His house felt emptier than usual. No TV was in the background, the curtains were all pulled, and the only lightbulb turned on in the house was above your head. The atmosphere didn't quite fit Luffy's tone, but considering the circumstances, the view was just pathetic for his home. "And I know why you're here."

"Do you?"

"I'm going to prison, right?" he looked concerned.

"No, you're not." you smiled at the corner of your lips, admiring his innocence. "But they're gonna want to ask you some questions. I have to make sure that everything you tell them are things you already know, without any key information though. By the way, have you spoken to Marco or Izo lately?"